2024-25 Impact Report
The difference your support has made at St Andrew's Prep...
...and Eastbourne College throughout the 2024-25 year
As the newly appointed chair of governors, I was so proud to be involved with the launch of the Blue Sky Bursaries Appeal. The Caffè Sospeso film, which you can view below, was shown during the Speech Days at St Andrew’s Prep and Eastbourne College and, earlier this year, a Giving Day took place. The community, from both near and far (thanks to digital access), was brought together to support the appeal. On 12 March, College Field was awash with colour, music and various activities, including the descent from Memorial Tower via zip wire, by some intrepid staff ‘volunteers’! The joyful atmosphere was further lifted by the arrival of the St Andrew’s pupils later in the day, their tangible excitement escalating with the consumption of wondrous Willy Wonka-style delicacies in Big School, kindly provided by the Eastbourne College Parent Connect group.
On a more serious note, the Charity has been taking steps to mitigate the financial impact of governmental measures affecting the independent sector: VAT on school fees, the loss of charitable business rates relief and, in addition, the increase in Employer National Insurance contributions. Historically, the Charity has been able to welcome a large number of pupils in need of fee remission. Sadly, with the increase in the cost base, this level of support is no longer possible.
In these challenging times, your involvement has never been more valued and important. As you read on, you will understand how transformative this kind of philanthropy can be. Thank you to all of you who contribute so generously and in a number of ways to support these pupils. Please, if you can, continue to help these talented young people whose parents are unable to afford the fees, and enable them to enjoy all that our two wonderful schools have to offer. When we join together, your donations, even if just a weekly amount equivalent to a cup of coffee, can change young lives.
Thank you
Nicky Eckert
Chair of Governors, Eastbourne College Incorporated
Paying it forward
Our Caffè Sospeso film launched the Blue Sky Bursaries Appeal. It shows that small amounts, given regularly, add up to make a huge difference. Thank you so much to those who have already signed up to give in this way.
View the film below and, if you too would like to become a Caffè Sospeso donor, just click the button to find out more and sign up.
Why I give regularly
Charlotte Clifford has a child in Year 10 at the College. We are very grateful to her for being one of the first to set up a regular donation after watching the Caffè Sospeso film on Speech Day last year. She said: "I found the film very moving. And I really like the focus on lots of people coming together each to give a relatively small amount.
"I am the pastoral support officer in a school where pupils are not as privileged as my own children, and that was my motivation for donating to the appeal. It's good for my children to be aware of this too: that they should not take their opportunities for granted.
"It's great to be part of something like this, working with others for the good of others. It really strengthens the feeling of belonging to the College community. I am glad to give."
Highlights of the year
There's no doubt that we have achieved great things this year and so much of that is due to your kindness and generosity. Here is a rundown of the key moments.
May 2024
OA class of 2014 reunion
It was a pleasure to welcome back 18 Old Androvians who left St Andrew's in 2014. Some had flown in from other parts of Europe to be with us. They were keen not only to meet up again but also to see the many changes that have happened since leaving the school a decade ago.
We are looking to hold similar reunions for other cohorts in the future. If you want it to be yours, do get in touch.
June 2024
Launch of Blue Sky Bursaries Appeal
Up, up and away... the hot-air balloon we had on site during Speech Day last year was an impressive way to launch our Blue Sky Bursaries Appeal, an endowment fund for future bursary awards. The Caffè Sospeso film to support the appeal premiered and was well received by parents and pupils. You can view it above.
September 2024
Annual Dinner
The 2024 Annual Dinner took place at the Grand Hotel in Eastbourne with 110 guests in attendance. We enjoyed delicious food and wine, a performance from some College musicians, and an entertaining 'Head to Head' talk between former headmaster, Chris Saunders (1981-93) and our current headmaster, Tom Lawson.
This September we will be back at the Grand. More information is available on the ES website.
October 2024
Inaugural Ladies Lunch
We had long considered an event specifically for alumnae and other friends and so hosted a mouth-watering lunch at the Star in Alfriston. The feedback was positive and the lunch is now open to all ES ladies in our community and takes place twice a year. The first speaker was our second master's wife, Lai Symes, who is a talented milliner.
The next Ladies Lunch is at the beginning of May. See the ES site Events page for more and to book.
March 2025
Giving Day
Our first-ever Giving Day took place in March. A long time in the planning, and taking place over 36 hours so as to include our overseas supporters, the event was a huge success. As well as having fun events on College Field, we emailed OAs, OEs, parents and other supporters to invite them to donate throughout the day. We raised over £340,000 which included some very generous early donations used as match funding during the course of the event. Scroll down for more photos from the day.
June 2025
Online art auction
The lots for our auction were all A5 artworks created and donated by pupils at both schools as well as parents, local artists, OEs and OAs. They included a stunning study in red of the Dalai Lama by OA / OE Ben Wolstenholme who created the A5 image in oil as a preparatory piece for a larger portrait. We are so grateful to all the artists.
The lots were displayed online and, once we went live, bidding was fierce with a total raised of almost £4,000. The feedback has been really positive and we are looking to hold another auction this year. If you would like to create an A5 artwork, please drop us a line.
Giving Day fun
A selection of images showing the magic (and mayhem) from the Giving Day held in March 2025.
A huge thanks to our match funders who enabled us to raise double the money on the day. If you would like to match fund Giving Day 2027, we’d love to hear from you.
The day started with teams from Facilities and Drivers pulling a mini-bus up Old Wish Road.
The day started with teams from Facilities and Drivers pulling a mini-bus up Old Wish Road.
Watt House girls showing their support for the day.
Watt House girls showing their support for the day.
Pupils loved watching some of the staff descending from Memorial Tower.
Pupils loved watching some of the staff descending from Memorial Tower.
Wargrave House boys were in good voice.
Wargrave House boys were in good voice.
Parents from Eastbourne College Parent Connect laid on sweets and treats in Big School.
Parents from Eastbourne College Parent Connect laid on sweets and treats in Big School.
St Andrew's pupils joined the mêlée later in the afternoon.
St Andrew's pupils joined the mêlée later in the afternoon.
Nugent House girls created a red dragon for the Mardi Gras parade which kicked off the afternoon's fun.
Nugent House girls created a red dragon for the Mardi Gras parade which kicked off the afternoon's fun.
Reeves House boys did well, winning the tug of war competition.
Reeves House boys did well, winning the tug of war competition.
A history of giving
St Andrew's Prep and Eastbourne College were founded on philanthropy, a value which remains. Without the ongoing generosity of our community, be that former pupils, parents, staff or local businesses, we would not be able to see our building projects come to fruition, nor bursaries and scholarships financed.
The founding principles
The College was established in 1867 "to provide a general education of the highest class in the remarkable healthiness of Eastbourne." St Andrew's opened in Meads 10 years later and both schools strive to live up to these founding principles today.
Throughout our history, generous donors and philanthropists have shaped our facilities and what we do, starting with the very first benefactor to the College, the Duke of Devonshire.
Over recent years, the campaigns we have run have led to new facilities at the College such as the Winn Building with its pool, dining hall and sports facilities and, at St Andrew's, the refurbished pavilion, the Goodwin Sports Hall and a new library.
Moving forwards
The motto of Eastbourne College, Ex Oriente Salus, meaning "Health" (or Safety) from the East", works well for the Charity as a whole, especially in the current economic climate. The schools continue to be beacons of guiding light, fostering a culture where we celebrate all pupils' strengths and interests.
According to the 2024 Independent Schools Inspectorate report both schools were awarded with significant strengths and it said of the College: "It aims to provide a balanced education that equips pupils to be happy and successful through school and later life."
And for St Andrew's Prep, the Good Schools Guide, 2024, said: "A school that values kindness and nurtures loyalty, pride and character. Where children grow up at their own pace in a safe inspiring environment by the sea."
Our aim is to increase our ability to provide support to those pupils whose parents cannot afford our full fees. Our long-term target is to increase our restricted endowed funds, supporting bursaries, from £10m currently to £30m. The Blue Sky Bursaries Appeal aims to fund 40 places at any one time.
The part you play
Thank you so much for your support of Eastbourne College Incorporated (St Andrew's Prep and Eastbourne College). We welcome any thoughts or enquiries you may have. Just email Development Director Emma Garrett at ecbgarrett@eastbourne-college.co.uk.
One-off donations: A single gift, whatever the size, can make a huge difference. And if you are able to Gift Aid your donation, we can claim 25 per cent more with no extra cost to you.
In-life giving: We would love you to consider making a larger donation and sponsoring a child through sixth form, for example. It's a joy to follow a pupil's progress on their school journey.
Regular giving: Giving as much or as little as you like on a regular basis, be that monthly, termly or annually, soon adds up. It's the cornerstone of our Caffè Sospeso campaign (see the film above).
Legacy giving: Making up a large proportion of our fundraising income, gifts in wills could be a specific gift amount, a particular asset or a percentage of your overall estate.
Corporate giving: If your business is passionate about education, we'd love to hear from you. You can make a donation, take out advertising in our magazine, or sponsor one of our events.
Giving of expertise: Are you a specialist in your profession? We run networking events for our pupils and would love to hear from you if you could take part to share your insights and advice.
To find out more about the difference your donations make, we spoke to three former pupils who have benefited from a bursary. Their stories are below.
How your support helps
With our current focus on providing bursary funding, we wanted to hear from those who have received a bursary award. Here's what they told us...
Tawanda Muyeye
(Gonville 2018-20)
"Eastbourne changed my life in so many ways"
"I don't think I would have gone down the professional cricket route if it hadn't been for Eastbourne. It changed my life in so many ways," said Tawanda who is currently on a three-year contract with Kent County Cricket Club.
"I had been at a good school in Harare where we weren't short of cricket but, due to the political situation, my family and I came to the UK just before my 17th birthday. I had sent an email to Eastbourne College, including information about my academics and cricket scores, and they put me in touch with Rob Ferley, who was director of cricket at the time, and we took it from there.
Tawanda also played on the winning Oval Invincibles team in the The Hundred competition 2025
Tawanda also played on the winning Oval Invincibles team in the The Hundred competition 2025
"I felt extremely privileged to be given a bursary and to come to the College. It was a proud moment for my family and me. Nigel Wheeler (a former member of staff and director of cricket), was so kind to me and I am still in touch with him, Rob and my tutor, Mike Harrison, who was amazing during my time at the College, and continues to support me with my cricket today.
"I am loving my time at Kent; it is my dream to play cricket for England. I hope that one day, in the not-too-distant future, I will realise that dream. In the meantime, I am studying for a degree in economics with the Open University alongside my cricket.
"My parents have been behind me all the way and they are equally supportive of my two siblings, but it's wonderful that my Eastbourne family is still part of my life.
"I wouldn't have had this opportunity without the bursary funding. Giving in this way sends a powerful message that potential, not background, should determine a young person's success. I am immensely proud and grateful."
Joshua Curryer
(Reeves 2014-16)
"The College lifted me from darkness into a bright and supportive environment. It set me up for life"
"I am from Eastbourne, and grew up in an environment of domestic violence, drug abuse and I even had spells of living alone; it isn't something I love to broadcast, but the context is helpful to show the impact of my bursary.
"I entered the foster system at 14 and my previous troubles spurred my drive to get my head down, study, and to succeed. What better place to do that than the College? I set my sights on attending.
"I was generously granted a 65 per cent bursary from the College, with the remaining fees covered by charity support from two educational charities: the Emmott Foundation and the Hale Trust.
"In Reeves House I found the family I needed, led by Mr and Mrs Sands, real-life superheroes. My happy memories?
Joshua, 2nd from right, and fellow Reeves friends on their Rickshaw Challenge in India at the end of 2024.
Joshua, 2nd from right, and fellow Reeves friends on their Rickshaw Challenge in India at the end of 2024.
Walking the cloisters, singing Jerusalem in Chapel, volunteering at St Andrew's Prep, DofE Gold (hiking in the Black Mountains and Brecon Beacons), learning golf (I could have done without the trauma of this one!), playing yard cricket and table tennis (usually during prep…) and all that comes with daily life and routine at the College in my happiest two years.
"I went on to read English Literature at the University of Exeter and thereafter to London where I have worked for almost seven years in business restructuring at a top-ten accountancy firm.
"At a time when I needed it most, the College lifted me from darkness into a bright and supportive environment where I was challenged and encouraged. It taught me to be good and to be kind. It set me up for life.
"I want to give back to the College for all it gave me. It is a debt I can never fully repay, but I can certainly try. I am a monthly donor to the Blue Sky Bursaries Appeal for a modest sum and, last year, I fundraised for a 1,200km, fully unsupported, no set-route, Top Gear-esque rickshaw race across India. I raised £5,000, split between the Emmott Foundation and the Blue Sky Bursaries Appeal. I aim to continue to give back and I would encourage anyone to do the same."
Joshua was interviewed in a film about his time at the College and you can view it here.
Daisy Barrow
(Watt 2022-25)
"Eastbourne shaped me into the young woman I've become. It gave me confidence and independence"
"I was at a local school in Eastbourne. I played tennis and was spotted at various tournaments by Simon Gent, the head of tennis at the College. I had wanted to attend the College because of its prestigious reputation, for its amazing sports facilities, the coaches and the teams’ achievements; I wanted to be part of it, but financially that wasn't possible.
"Fortunately, the school wanted me, and I was awarded a full bursary through the Trevor Pescud tennis award. I started at the College in Year 10.
"I loved it at the College. I loved the amount of support I received through day-to-day life. Whether it was academically or athletically, I never felt like I was
Daisy on court during a recent tournament.
Daisy on court during a recent tournament.
struggling with anything. The College shaped me into the young woman I've become. It gave me confidence and independence.
"A favourite memory of mine was when we qualified for the national final in 2023 when we beat the number one seed school at home, and Mr Gent took at us all for ice cream. And it was great to win house singing for the first time in 2023; the atmosphere in the house was buzzing and all the girls were just so happy.
"Bursaries and bursary giving are so important. If it hadn't been for the generosity of Trevor Pescud, there is no way I could have attended the College, and I am so glad I did.
"I have just completed my first semester at a Division 2 American college on a tennis scholarship. I am currently in the number one doubles pair and am soon to be the number one singles player. I'm so grateful.
"Bursaries give young people who wouldn't have the opportunity otherwise, the chance to grow into people they didn't know they could become, which is an amazing thing."
Daisy was interviewed in a film about her time at the College and you can view it here.
If Eastbourne shaped your life or the life of someone you love, please pay it forward and help do the same for someone else. To make a donation, as a one-off or a regular gift, click on the button and fill in the form. Your support means so much. Thank you.
Meet the parents...
We want to thank those parents who are part of the Eastbourne College Parent Connect (ECPC) group, which was established in 2024, and came together to turn Big School into an emporium of sweets, treats, cakes and bakes on Giving Day in March 2025. They raised over £2,000. We are so grateful for all their help.
Along with the Friends of St Andrew's (FoSA), the parent group at the prep school, which has been run so brilliantly for years, our parents lend us so much support in so many ways. They have put on their own fundraising events and volunteer behind the scenes as well as helping to make new parents feel welcome. Thanks so much to all of them.
If you would like to find out more about ECPC or FoSA, just click on the relevant link and send us an email. You will be more than welcome to join.
Shown in the pic are some of the FoSA mums on the raffle stall at the Advent Fayre.
...and the ES team
We're here to help, so do get in touch.
Left to right: John Thornley, events; Sorcha Wallace-Carville, admin; Emma Garrett, development director; Fiona Wallace, events; Liz Silvester, development officer; David Blake, database and magazine.
Join the Eastbournian Society
If you're not already a member, click the button below to register. Membership is free.
Thank you for reading. If you have not yet registered and would like to be part of the Eastbournian Society, which brings together Old Eastbournians, Old Androvians, Old Aschamians, parents, grandparents, staff and other friends and supporters, please do join us. We host sports and networking events, dinners, days out and theatre trips. You can also access the digital archive, get back in touch with old friends and join our sports club and societies. Membership is free, so click here and join now to keep up to date with all that we are doing.
Pupils shown in the photographs may not be in receipt of a bursary.
We would love to hear from you. Do let us know what you think of this new digital presentation of our Impact Report.
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